The New England Patriots will likely have to do without wide receiver Julian Edelman for the first four games of the upcoming NFL season, as his appeal of the punishment was denied by the arbitrator who heard the case.
Edelman is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy after testing positive for an unknown substance during the offseason.
Edelman Cited Procedural Errors in Appeal
NFL suspensions are notoriously hard to overturn, and appeals are almost always denied. However, there were some signs that Edelman might have a chance to defend himself in this particular case.
For one, there was the fact that the test only found an “unknown substance.” The NFL even had to have scientists analyze the mystery substance that came up in Edelman’s sample.
But Ben Volin of the Boston Globe cited a league source who said that Edelman never brought up that point during the appeal. Instead, he argued that paperwork and other evidence was mishandled, and as such, the suspension should not be upheld.
Could Pats Make a Federal Case of Suspension?
That argument apparently wasn’t persuasive, however, meaning that Edelman will likely miss the first quarter of the season for New England. But there are still steps that he or the team could take in order to fight the decision, such as appealing the case in federal court. The fact that there have been tensions between the Patriots and the NFL in recent years – including a battle over the Deflategate scandal – might make such action more likely than it would normally be.
When the suspension was first announced in June, Edelman released a statement expressing shock that he had tested positive for a PED.
“I am very sorry – I don’t know what happened,” Edelman wrote. “I’ve taken many, many tests obviously over the course of my career, and nothing like this has ever happened.”
Edelman has spent his entire career with the Patriots since being drafted by the team in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. While he has only scored 24 touchdowns in eight seasons, Edelman has emerged as a reliable option for quarterback Tom Brady, catching 98 passes for 1,106 yards in the 2016 season. However, he missed the entire 2017 season after suffering an ACL tear.
Edelman will still be allowed to participate in preseason activities and games under the terms of the suspension. He will become eligible to return to the team on October 1, meaning he’ll likely make his debut for the 2018 season at home against the Indianapolis Colts on October 4.
While the Patriots will have trouble replacing Edelman’s production for their first four games, it isn’t expected to seriously impact their ability to compete for a championship. Sportsbooks have unanimously made New England the favorite to win the 2019 Super Bowl, with William Hill listing them at 5/1 ahead of the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles (9/1).
